Brookes, of Nursery Road, Godalming, had previously been convicted, in February this year, of 14 counts of fraud, nine of making articles for use in fraud and two of converting criminal property.

On Tuesday (May 6), she was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to two-and-a-half years in jail for the offences, which occurred between 2009 and 2011.

Judge Andrew Barnett said: "You have brought disgrace on the uniform you once wore and you have brought shame upon the force you once served and tarnished, generally speaking, the reputation of the police service."

'Sophisticated' fraud

During the hour-long hearing, prosecutor Nicholas Tucker said an internal investigation was launched by Surrey Police in 2011, as Brookes approached 20 years of service with the force.

Offences included getting a £10,200 holiday at Buccament Bay, on the Caribbean island of St Vincent, for just over £4,000 in 2011.

"In the emails which followed [with the travel company] she represented that she was a counter terrorism officer based at Gatwick Airport," he told the packed courtroom.

The court heard Brookes would also target high street stores, netting more than £11,000 against household names including The White Company, Micro Scooters and Boots.

She would buy items in bulk on eBay and at discount stores and then take them back to shops demanding a full refund.

Although she was not on duty at the time, Brookes would wear her police lanyard and use her position as an officer to pressure staff, the court heard.

Police found forged bank statements on her computer to act as proof of purchase of the items.

"The overall picture we would say is one of a sophisticated and extensive confidence fraud," added the prosecutor.

Defending Brookes, Nicholas Yeo referred to an examination of her by a doctor which said that an operation on a brain tumour in 2005 could have left the former police officer with a lower understanding of what was "socially and legally acceptable".

“She was so harrowed by this investigation, she’s ended up with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder," he said.

'Persistent criminal'

Brookes sat emotionless in the dock throughout the hearing before being asked to stand by Judge Barnett, who told her the fact she was a serving police officer at the time of these offences was something he could not ignore.

"The most significant factor of this tragic case is that you were a chief inspector of police with Surrey Constabulary," he said. "That feature cannot and should not be ignored by the court.

"Taken with the persistence of your criminality, the sentence I must pass has got to make an example of you to others to show this sort of behaviour by serving police officers will be disapproved of by this court and society."

Brookes was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for the 25 charges she was convicted of and to 27 months for the eight offences she pleaded guilty to, the terms to run concurrently.

Dressed in a dark blue top and jacket, Brookes smiled and gave a double thumbs-up to her family in the public gallery.

Judge Barnett's final remark was: "You may go to serve that sentence which you so richly deserve."

'Gross breach of trust'

Anton Allera, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "The jury at Winchester Crown Court convicted her of 25 counts of fraud, which represented a series of dishonest transactions in respect of a number of high street retails.

"One of the aggravating features in respect of some of her offending was that the defendant on occasions referred to the fact she was a serving police officer or wore her identification lanyard at the time of the transactions.

"This can only be described as a gross breach of trust given her position at the time as a chief inspector.

"A second trial involving a series of additional dishonesty offences was due to begin on the March 2014. However, the defendant entered guilty pleas to a further eight offences of fraud.

"This represented incidents including the defendant making representations that she was employed as a counter-terrorism police officer at Gatwick Airport in order to secure a discounted rate for a luxury family holiday.

"Other incidents included making false documentation to support fraudulent claims for damaged luggage.

"The public expects that police officers act with integrity. The successful prosecution of this defendant demonstrates that no-one is above the law."